'So, where are they?'
By Dave Kannas
This little girl was but one of the approximately 1.5 million fans who lined the roads along which the Tour of California professional road race sped for its third year this February. I've attended all three with no indication that my enthusiasm is diminishing.
The power of nature
By Don C. Brunell
As we try to put climate change in perspective, it is discouraging to hear some people blame every natural catastrophe on human activity. Such tactics are dishonest and do a disservice to well-meaning people on all sides of the issue.
The Green Movement continues to have many positive impacts. People are saving energy, reducing their waste, and changing their buying habits. They recognize that it is in their self-interest to do what they can to protect the planet.
The Seattle City Council will review a proposal in the next two months that would increase building height in an Interbay commercial area from its current 40-foot limit up to 125 feet.
The Council anticipates a draft proposal to be submitted from the Department of Planning and Development by April, according to central staff.
The streets of Ballard turned violent on March 2 when a homeless man, Matthew Scott Korpinen, 38, was beaten to death with a metal pipe.
Police arrested John Robert Dwyer, 53, nearby after talking to a witness. Dwyer was charged with second-degree murder by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office last week. Bail has been set at $1.5 million.
A witness told police there had been an altercation a few days earlier between Korpinen and Dwyer, also homeless and living in a vehicle nearby.
A $500 reward has been offered for the return of the stolen historic arrow sign that hung outside the Olympic Athletic Club's parking garage on Ballard Avenue. It was installed in the 1930's, when a bowling alley opened there.
"It's a felony, but we don't want to see anyone get in trouble. We just want our sign, no questions asked," said Mark Durall, the club's general manager. He said the club stays open 24-hours a day.
"But we close at 7 p.m. Saturdays until 8 a.m. Sundays, and I noticed it missing Sunday morning, Feb.
A citizen-led effort to save another longtime community gathering place got a boost last week when the new owners of the Sunset Bowl property agreed to consider incorporating a bowling alley into its development plans, which would demolish the 30-year-old local landmark.
Brian Fritz, vice president of development for AvalonBay Communities, said his company is willing to look at the idea, but "can we do it? I have no idea," he said.
"I don't want anyone to think that we are guaranteeing anything," said Fritz.
"Why am I doing this?" I asked all the way to the sign-in table on the first Saturday of March. I had not only chosen to spend a precious weekend day at a public policy forum; I had been forced to plead my case to be allowed to attend.
Lately in the interest of Ballard, I have been leaving Ballard. Like the trek downtown for the Landmark Board meeting and now, the University of Washington campus for a Neighborhood Planning Forum sponsored by the Evans School of Public Affairs.
- During their sensational 2007-2008 season drive, the Decatur High School boys basketball team played scintillating games that came down to the wire.
At the Tacoma Dome, three out of four games were decided on the last possession, but two of the three games resulted in losses.
On the afternoon of Saturday, March 1, two familiar adversaries returned to thwart a Decatur try for triumph in another final possession encounter.
At West Central District, junior guards Abdul Gaddy and Avery Bradley led the Bellarmine Prep Lions past the Gators (20-8) in a 66-62 winner
TACOMA--There's no shame in losing a game.
That's especially the case when a team battles all of the season and postseason to get to the state championship game, when expectations were that it wouldn't be anywhere near. Not even the team expected to be there in the case of the Federal Way boys basketball team.
"We didn't expect to be where we are," said Federal Way head coach Jerome Collins.
Responding to numerous offers of extended vehicle warranties targeting consumers around the state-including in the Highline area-the Washington Attorney General's Office is advising caution.
"While the official-looking postcard in your mailbox warns that your car's warranty is about to expire and urges you to call a toll-free number to ensure you're covered ...
